Searching for God's Holy House
Searching for God's Holy House
by Susie Snypes
Associates of Biblical Research (ABR) was conducting an archaeological dig there, and the Dig Director,
Dr. Scott Stripling, met with us to explain the work at the site. Someone in our group asked about the qualifications to be a volunteer, and Dr. Stripling replied, “No experience needed. We will teach you everything you need to know.”
I had been interested in participating in an archaeological project after a trip to Israel as a tourist in 1996. I visited Israel again in 2009 but only as a tourist. I never pursued my interest in archaeology because I assumed an educational background in archaeology was a prerequisite. Little did I know then that the opportunity to participate in a dig would surface another 13 years later.
I was excited about the possibility of being a dig volunteer. When I returned home in 2022, I talked to my husband, Al, about the opportunity, and I prayed for direction. It soon became clear that God had opened the door for this opportunity. I contacted ABR and began reading articles about archaeology and the Shiloh project. I stepped out on faith and registered for the 2023 season without personally knowing anyone else on the dig. While I was there, I quickly met other volunteers who became my “dig family.” It was such a wonderful experience that I participated again in 2024
and 2025!
The ABR Shiloh excavation began in 2017. Three dig seasons were completed before a two-year break due to COVID-19. (A dig season is 5 weeks, from mid-May to mid-June.) The Shiloh dig was in its fourth season when I toured the site in 2022. Volunteers sign up for one to five weeks depending on their personal schedules. Since I am retired, I have been going for four weeks each season. Volunteers come from all walks of life and from different countries. They are professors, pastors, students, businessmen and women. I worked alongside volunteers from the US, Canada, Sweden, Australia, Brazil, Denmark, and Israel. The best part is knowing I am among people who are believers in Jesus Christ, because not all archaeologists are Christian.
ABR’s goals for the Shiloh project have been to uncover evidence of the Israelite occupation, which includes the location of the Tabernacle, the sacrificial system, and the city gate complex. Each dig season has revealed more and more evidence to illuminate what we read in the Bible.
A typical dig day begins with breakfast at 4:00 a.m. We start early to avoid the hottest part of the afternoon. We load the bus and depart our Jerusalem hotel at 4:59 a.m. Travel time to Shiloh is about 45 minutes. We have a morning devotion and prayer on the way. Then we arrive at the site just in time for a beautiful sunrise. The sunrise view from Shiloh is definitely new every morning! We break for lunch at 10:30 a.m. and then get back to work. We stop at 1:00 p.m. to wash our pottery finds and then head back to our hotel at 2:00 p.m. Some evenings we attend lectures presented by the dig staff, and some evenings we walk to the Old City to look around. Bedtime comes early since our days begin at 4:00 a.m.!
Our weekends offer options for visiting places with an archaeologist as our guide. This is always a special time and a great way to learn more about the people and places recorded in the Bible.
Shiloh was the site of the first Tabernacle when Joshua arrived with the Israelites (Joshua 18:1).The Bible does not record the date when the Israelites settled in Shiloh, but ABR dates it to around 1400 BC based on archaeological evidence. Evidence also reveals that prior to the Israelites' arrival at Shiloh, the area had been inhabited by the Canaanites.
From about 1750 to 1650 BC, the area was without walls. Around 1650 BC, a fortification system was built enclosing about five acres. Previous excavations by a Danish team and an Israeli team uncovered walls and storage rooms, which helped identify the time period. In Deuteronomy 6:10–11, God said He would bring the Israelites into the land He promised, and they would live in cities and houses that they did not build, with cisterns they did not dig, and vineyards and olive trees that they did not plant.
ABR has excavated an area that is believed to be the site of the Tabernacle. The structure is referred to as a “monumental building” until continuing research confirms that it is the site of the Tabernacle.
Each season has revealed more and more of the structure. Walls and corners have been discovered. The structure orients east to west and matches the dimensions for the Tabernacle as recorded in Exodus. Also, several ceramic pomegranates have been found in the area. Pomegranates are a fruit associated with the Tabernacle and with priestly garments (Exodus 28:33–35). At some point in Shiloh’s history, the tent of meeting may have transitioned to a more permanent structure. There are references in the Bible to the Tabernacle doors (1 Samuel 3:15) and to a doorpost
(1 Samuel 1:9).
My first assignment was working with Tim Lopez, an archaeologist from Sweden. Tim was the Square Supervisor for the area believed to be the location of the Tabernacle’s Holy
of Holies. Initially, I stepped back from the area because I felt overwhelmed and unworthy to be standing in the Sanctuary where God said He would dwell among His people and where the Ark of the Covenant once resided. It was very humbling! As we excavated, I often thought about Samuel and his time at Shiloh. Was I in the place where the Lord called Samuel? (1 Samuel 3).
ABR has also excavated a gate complex that was part of the Canaanite walled city. A row of three large stone pillars has been uncovered, along with paving stones. It is believed to be the gate where the high priest Eli was sitting when he received word that his two sons had been killed in battle and the Ark of the Covenant had been captured (1 Samuel 4:12–22). Prior to this event, the Ark of the Covenant had resided in the Tabernacle at Shiloh for about 350 years.
Another area excavated by ABR is the favissa, a debris dump where sacred objects no longer in use were deposited. Unearthed items point to the Israelites’ religious sacrifices and offerings. There are layers and layers of animal bones. A zoo-archaeologist has examined, identified and sorted all of the bones that have been unearthed. He has determined that 99% of the bones are from young sheep and goats. These bones relate to sacrificial services. Other finds include fragments of decorated pottery and small gold objects, which also point to sacrificial offerings.
The most common find is pottery, most of which are broken pieces (called "sherds" in archaeology). Over 2,000 sherds in various shapes and sizes are unearthed and washed each day. Pottery changes over time, making it the best tool for dating each soil layer. Diagnostic sherds (rims, handles, bases, painted pieces) are analyzed by ceramic experts using the known characteristics of certain time periods to determine the "specific time period" and vessel type found at Shiloh. Approximately 10% of the sherds are kept for further analysis and restoration.
Other finds include coins, sandal tacks, shells,
stone and glass beads, small flint tools, glass fragments, scarabs, sling stones, and ballista balls, which were used in catapults. All of these finds are recorded and stored for further analysis. Each one helps to identify a time period. As volunteers, we agree not to photograph the finds. The archaeologists will release information when their analysis is complete.
When we excavate, we watch for pottery, bones, and other objects in the soil, which we remove and place in tagged pails that identify the location. The soil is placed in containers called guffas. The guffas are taken to a dry-sifting station where the material is sifted to remove loose soil. After removing rocks, the dry-sifted material is examined to see if there are any items to be saved. These may be sherds, flint, coins, beads, glass, etc. The remaining material is placed in a mesh bag and tagged to identify its square location. Then the bags are delivered to the wet-sifting station where they are soaked and washed to remove caked soil and examined further. Washing the material reveals things that digging and dry-sift volunteers were unable to see because of the soil build-up. Painted sherds, flint, beads and sandal tacks are common finds in wet-sifting. There have also been some significant finds, which proves wet-sifting to be a valuable tool.
Since archaeology involves digging up a site, it is destructive. It is critical to thoroughly record every step and every discovery, or the information is lost forever. ABR staff and supervisors utilize iPads to record all data. They also have a metal detector to assist in finding metallic objects. There is a daily drone flyover to capture overhead shots of the site. Another technique used is the flotation testing of soil samples. The flotation testing filters soil samples to extract seeds and organic matter. This process gives clues about what was growing in the region during a specific time period and clues about the inhabitants' diet.
Digging up biblical history and finding artifacts that have been covered for over 3,000 years has been very exciting. Being a part of the Shiloh Dig has helped me visualize what life was like in biblical times. At ABR, Scripture is the foundation and guide in interpretation of archaeological discoveries. The Bible provides a historical record about the people who lived in the lands and the events that took place in those lands, and archaeology comes alongside to illuminate the biblical text.
This year’s dig experience was quite different from my previous two seasons. In May, my flight was canceled the week before I was scheduled to leave for Israel because of a Houthi missile that landed close to the Tel Aviv airport. The dig was still on as planned, so I rebooked my flight via an alternate carrier and route instead of a direct flight from the U.S. With two stops and long layovers each time, I finally reached Israel after 40+ hours of travel.
Then the day before I was to fly home in June, sirens sounded in the early morning hours. At breakfast we learned that the airspace over Israel and Jordan was closed and all flights were canceled because Israel had launched airstrikes at Iran, and Iran had struck back at Israel. Sirens and cell phone warnings sounded again that evening.
We were safe in our hotel, but we were not sure how long we would remain in Israel. We prayed fervently and soon God revealed His plan and provision for our journey home! The owner of our Jerusalem hotel is also the owner of a tour bus company. Arrangements were made for a bus to take us the next day to the Egyptian border in the southernmost tip of Israel. (About half of our group stayed another week to close down the dig site.) We departed Jerusalem early that morning, and we witnessed a beautiful sunrise over the Dead Sea as we traveled south to Eilat. After crossing through border security on our exit from Israel, and again on our entry into Egypt, we were met by another bus and taken to Cairo for our flights home.
Our 17-hour journey consisted of travel on two different buses, two border crossings, a lunch stop at a beautiful resort on the Gulf of Aqaba on the northern tip of the Red Sea, 12 or so security checkpoints on the Egyptian roadway across the Sinai Peninsula, and a drive through the Suez Canal tunnel into Cairo—all in the comfort of air-conditioned, Wi-Fi equipped buses and without any wandering through the desert wilderness on foot! We called this our “reverse Exodus.” We felt safe and secure, and we rested in God’s peace that was always present. For that, I am grateful!
More information about the Shiloh Dig is available at ABR’s website, biblearchaeology.org. This website is also where you, too, can volunteer to be a part of this exciting project!
Susie Snypes is married to Al Snypes and they are both retired. They have been members at Dawson for 21 years. Susie enjoys traveling and scrapbooking, and also volunteers in the
Church Library.